On 3 April, Uganda’s constitutional court rejected activists’ petition seeking to annul or suspend the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, which they say violated human rights and constitutionally protected rights.
Members of the LGBTQ community have said the law’s enactment in May unleashed torture, rape, arrest and eviction. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said almost 600 people reported human rights violations and abuses based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
The law punishes homosexual acts with life imprisonment and ‘aggravated homosexuality’ (or rape) with the death sentence. People found to promote homosexuality can face up to 20 years in prison.
Petitioners said the ruling voided some provisions that had criminalised people for allowing premises for homosexual acts as well as failure to report homosexual acts. They said they would appeal the ruling to the Ugandan Supreme Court.
The Ugandan government has blamed Western powers for imposing LGBTQ identities.
Upon the law’s enactment, the World Bank halted new lending to Uganda, and the United States announced visa and travel restrictions against Ugandan officials, citing human rights concerns.